Jorgenson Pace has been retained to conduct a national search.
In December 2023, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg released Growing Louisville Together , the city’s first comprehensive, strategic economic development plan in a decade.
The LEDA organization is responsible for business attraction and expansion, as well as business retention, for Louisville. LEDA is also responsible for creating the new city brand and coordinating efforts with other key stakeholders, including Louisville Tourism and Greater Louisville, Inc., (GLI) the region’s 15-county chamber of commerce.
The CEO will provide high-profile leadership, vision, guidance, and strategic direction for the programs and personnel of the Louisville Economic Development Alliance, facilitating and leading staff and Board efforts to achieve LEDA’s mission and goals, as approved by the Board of Directors. The CEO has fiscal responsibility and oversight for all organizational operations. The CEO will demonstrate a working knowledge of economic development principles, the city’s economy, the city and state’s public policy environment, marketing and branding concepts, membership dues structures, and the opportunities and challenges to support the growth and prosperity of large and small employers in the region. The CEO will possess the ability to embrace and inspire change and demonstrate openness to ideas from a variety of sources while focusing on achieving “best-in-class” outcomes.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and Management:
· Develop professional relationships and maintain effective contact with federal, state, and local officials as well as other business and community organizations pertinent to, or aligned with, LEDA projects or programs.
· Instill and model a culture of excellence, constant improvement, accountability, a growth mindset, respect, external and internal collaboration, and professional conduct for the organization.
· Work with the Board to develop a shared vision for the future of the organization, build understanding around the mission, and develop appropriate goals and strategies to advance that mission.
· Assume responsibility for all strategic planning and organizational policy as developed in concert with the Board of Directors, which includes developing a long-term strategic plan and annual business plan with measurable objectives for delivery of successful outcomes on all LEDA events, projects, and programs; align objectives with annual budget revenue and expense projections.
· Identify and create opportunities to grow LEDA and support the business community and the broader community through innovative ideas and practices, while continually evaluating programs and services to avoid duplication of programs and services that other community partners are better equipped to provide.
· Align and coordinate LEDA with other economic development groups and like-minded organizations to develop programs and sponsorships that are mutually beneficial.
· Provide oversight, support, and direction to ongoing programs at LEDA.
· Collaborate with legislators, regulatory agencies, volunteers, and representatives of the non-profit sector to promote legislative and regulatory policies that encourage a vibrant and economically robust community.
Financial Management :
· Assume financial oversight/accountability/responsibility to ensure the prudent management of all LEDA resources.
· Ensure the organization’s goals and strategic plan serve as the basis for sound financial management.
· Oversee the fiscal activities of the organization including fundraising systems and programs, accounting, budgeting, reporting, and audit functions. Ensure that solid budgeting and accounting systems are in place and appropriate financial controls and risk-management strategies.
· Keep the Board fully informed of LEDA’s financial condition.
Organization Development, Public Relations, and Marketing:
· Facilitate LEDA’s position as the leader of business attraction and expansion, branding, and business retention in Louisville, advocating in a way that is respectful, shows integrity, and maintains credibility to the community at large.
· Achieve and maintain high visibility in the community to create awareness and enhance the perception of value of LEDA’s programs, services, and public policy influence.
· In the role as CEO of LEDA, officiate at public ceremonies, advise the public on complex issues, speak publicly, create a broad network of contacts, and represent the community in public forums.
· Represent and promote LEDA and its policies and objectives to a variety of audiences, including with federal, state, and local government elected leaders, collaborating organizations, and individual businesses.
· Create messages that reflect LEDA’s mission to drive economic growth so that Louisville residents in every neighborhood thrive economically.
· Develop strategic direction and execute strategies related to marketing and communications to ensure that all LEDA members, as well as the public and their representatives, are informed of LEDA’s activities, achievements, and role in the community.
· Increase the exposure of the LEDA through the effective use of public media; develop ongoing relationships with target media, reporters, and editorial writers.
· Oversee development of marketing messages, collateral materials, and website content through the optimal use of LEDA’s digital capabilities to include an active presence via social media.
· Optimize LEDA’s digital platform for improved member recruitment and retention by providing members and potential members greater and improved access to useful and relevant information.
Human Capital Management:
· Oversee the management of LEDA staff including hiring, firing, performance reviews, salary and benefits administration, policy, and general supervision.
· Coach and develop the internal leadership team to attain consistent, highly effective performance.
· Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives, better business practices and an organizational structure that will optimize performance and operating results.
· Provide ongoing supervision of internal management system regarding key performance indicators (KPI’s) to monitor staff activity and performance against goals.
Board Relations:
· Share the joint responsibility with the Board of Directors for developing and maintaining transparency, a collaborative working relationship, and a system for sharing information that enables the Board to carry out its governance role effectively.
· Communicate regularly with the Executive Committee and Board of Directors on LEDA programs and activities, public policy issues, and other matters relevant to LEDA’s success.
· Assist the Board in developing a long-range plan to build the appropriate Board to best represent the interests of the membership, including Board succession planning and position development.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
· A minimum of five years of executive-level management experience, which could include private industry, trade associations, economic development, and/or related public sector or non-profit organizations. The ideal profile of career experiences would include a blend of the above-mentioned sectors including an executive-level role in the corporate or entrepreneurial environment.
· A four-year degree from an accredited school.
· A demonstrated record of delivering results in line with the objectives of Growing Louisville Together and providing dynamic internal and external leadership to achieve revenue objectives and other program and financial goals within the annual business plan.
· Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic business or public policy strategies and manage tactical execution to achieve results.
· A record of accomplishment at the leadership level in community organizations, trade associations and public-sector organizations.
· Recognition as a leader with the ability to develop, motivate, and build functional teams that regularly achieve and maintain superior levels of performance.
· Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain a credible reputation and high-profile presence in the community on behalf of an organization.
· Proven excellence in written and oral communication and in positive media relations.
· Experience in soliciting and securing sponsorship dollars from public and private sectors.
· Proven experience in public policymaking and in successfully influencing opinions of public policymakers.